Building block forming machine



May 21, 1946. R. w. DARDEN BUILDING BLOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet l QNN INVENTOR. R 0g 14/. D a rd an R. W. DARDEN BUILDING BLOCK FORMING MACHINE May 21, 1946.

Filed Oct. 4, 1943 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Roy 14/. 17a rd an -May 21, 1946. w, DA 2,400,631

BUILDING BLOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1943 7' Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. j? 0 y 14 17 are), aw

ATTDRN EYE Filed Oct. 4, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. R 0 2 14 Z701 rd 07% y 1945- R. w. DARDEN 2,400,631

BUILDING BLOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Roy 74 17a r01 an BY ATTORNEYS May 21, 1946. R. w. DARDEN BUILDING BLOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 mYwwmmv QQ A - INVENTOR. if 0 34 1 1 1760? d 677/ ATTORNEYS May 21, 1946. R. w. DARDEN BUILDING BLOCK FORMING MACHINE Filed 001;. 4, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 um&

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INVENTOR.

fiqy W Bard aw ATTD R N EYE hyw ea Patented May 21, 1946 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to the manufacture of concrete blocks and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved blockforming machine embodying a novel vibration packer and a novel stripping mechanism for removing the finished block from the mold.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with certain parts removed for the sake of clearness;

cated by line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front view;

Figure 6 is a rear view of the rear end only the machine;

Figure 7 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 1-1 of Figure 2; a

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit for the motor operating a greater part of the machine; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit of the motor which operates the vibrating mechanism.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, I make use of a base frame In to which are connected upright channels l2 having a top frame l4 secured to the upper ends thereof. An intermediate frame I6 is mounted on the base frame I0, and diagonal frame members [8 are connected with the frame [6 and the upper frame l4 to afford additional support for the latter. The upper frame l4 carries a hopper 20 within which the concrete mix is deposited for delivery to the machine.

A table 22 is mounted on upright members 24 secured to the frame l6. Adjacent one end of the table 22 is located a block mold 26 for shaping the concrete blocks. The upper end of the block mold 26 lies in a plane flush with the upper face of the table 22. A core pallet 26 is placed in the block mold 26 for each block pouring. This pallet includes a plate 30 lying on the bottom 32 of the block mold and having close fitting engagement with the side walls of the mold.

A carriage 34 is provided with a spout 36 arranged to align vertically with the block mold 26 to drop a measured quantity of concrete into the mold. Figure 2 illustrates the spout 36 in vertical alignment with the block mold 26, the spout being of the same size and contour as the block mold.

The carriage 34 includes wheels 36 running on angles 46 secured to the frame structure of the machine, and the carriage also includes two depending side plates 42 having ciose fitting engagement with the two opposite side edges of the table 22. The concrete mix in the hopper 20 gravitates downwardly through a hopper spout 44 which may be opened and closed by a plate 46 having close fitting engagement with the lower end of the spout and comprising a fixed part of the carriage 34. Movement of the carriage 34 to the position of Figure 1 brings the spout 36 into vertical alignment with the hopper spout 44. Since the spout 36 opens through the plate 46 and moves as a unit therewith, positioning of the spout 36 in accordance withFigure 1 permits the concrete mix to flow into the spout 36. Since the lower end of the spout 36 has close fitting engagement with the table 22, the concrete mix is prevented from flowing out through the bottom of the spout and discharges therefrom only when the spout is moved to the position of Figure 2. The plate 46 provides a closure for the hopper spout except when the spout 36 is in communication therewith.

Means for reciprocating the carriage 34 comprises a beam 48 pivotally connected at 56 with the carriage 34 and at 52 with a beam 54 pivotally mounted on a shaft 56 carried in bearings 56 mounted on upright posts 60 at the rear end of the machine. An arm 62 is fixedly related to the beam and carries a roller 64 engageable by an arm 66 secured to a disk 68, see Figures 4 and 6, secured to a shaft 10 rotatably supported in bearings 12 attached to the posts 60. Engagement of the arm 66 with the roller 64 moves the carriage 34 to the position of Figure 2. Upon the shaft III is secured a second disk I4 provided with a roller 16 engageable with the edge 18 on the lower end of the beam 54 to return the carriage to the position of Figure 1.

T0 the shaft 16 is connected a large sprocket wheel 83 driven by a chain 62 passing around a small sprocket 64 driven by a shaft 86 of a speed reducer 63 operated by a motor 90, best illustrated in Figure 4. Stops 92 are mounted on the frame members .40 to positively limit further movement of the carriage 34 in either of its two extreme positions should the momentum thereof be sufficient to propel the carriage short distances-beyond its limits. The stops are engaged by the wheels 36 of the carriage.

The block mold 26 is secured to a vibration frame 64 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a shaft 96 through the medium of bearings 98. One set of bearings is mounted on the frame l6 and the other set on the vibration frame 94.

While the block mold 28 is located at one end of the vibration frame 94, the latter is balanced by a weight I located on the opposite side of the shaft 96. Means for vibrating the frame 94 comprises a shaft I02 rotatably supported in bearings I04, see Figures 4 and 7, secured to the vibration frame. This shaft is provided with a plurality of weights I06 fixedly secured thereto with their greater masses located to one side of the axis of the shaft to impart vibratory motion thereto which is transmitted to the vibration frame through rapid rotation of the shaft.

Grooved wheels I08 are secured to the shaft I02 for connection with V belts IIO passing around grooved wheels II2 driven by the shaft I I4 of a motor I I6. I prefer to operate the motor H6 at 3400 R. P. M. Underneath the two ends of the vibration frame 94 are located cushioning devices II8 made up of alternate pieces of rubber and iron straps held together by bolts I20, The rear cushioning device 8 functions principally as a shimming means to provide a clearance of 1000 of an inch with the vibration frame. At the front end of the vibration frame, the bolts I20 pass loosely through the aligned openings in the elements of that cushioning device and the vibration frame and the frame I6, and rubber washers I2I are mounted on the bolts between their heads and the vibration frame and between the lock nuts and the frame I6. These bolts are first tightened and then backed off /100 of an inch.

The machine is so timed as to set the vibration frame 94 into motion as the spout 36 begins its movement over the mold form 26 so that the vibration effectively transfers the mix from the spout to the mold. The rapid vibration-imparted to the mold causes the mix to pack firmly in the mold.

The carriage 34 is pulled rearwardly to position the spout 36 to one side of the mold 26 at which time a pressure head I22 drops into the upper end of the mold 26. The head I22 sinks approximately /2 inch in the mold 26, the mold being vibrated as the head falls into engagement with the mix. Vibratory motion ceases shortly after the head has fallen into pressure engagement with the mix.

The head I22 is slidably guided on two upright rods I24 and is normally held in the position of Figure 2 by a hook I26 engaging underneath a mally lies in the position of Figure 2 against a stop I40. A tension spring I42 yieldingly holds the trip in the position shown, which trip is located in the path of a projection I44 secured to the plate 46 to engage the trip and pivot the hook I26 out of holding engagement with the latch I28 as the carriage 34 moves from the posi- 65 tion of Figure 2 to thatof Figure 1.

With the head I22 at rest in the mold, the

block therein is lifted from the mold through elevation of the core pallet 28. Rods I 46 are attached to a head I48 and pass through openings I50 in the bottom of the mold 26 to engage the plate 30 and elevate the plate with the block thereon to a position clearing the upper end of the mold.

The head I48 is mounted on a bar I62 slidably guided on the two rods I24, and this bar is provided with two upright rods I64 arranged to engage pins I66 threaded'into a member I68 to which the head I22 is fixedly connected. With the head I22 at rest in the mold 26, as in Figure 1, a slight upward movement of the two rods I54 brings the rods into engagement with the pins I66 for elevating the head to the position of Figure 2 to bring the head I22 into latched engagement with the hook I26. During such elevation of the head I 22, the rods I46 lift the core pallet from the mold 26.

Figure 3 illustrates the core pallet 28 without the block in its elevated position, at which time the block laden pallet may be shifted onto a frame I pivoted in bearings I62 to rotate the frame to a position adjacent theblock laden pallet and to bring the two bars I64 underneath the plate 30 to facilitate shifting of the block laden pallet onto the frame. The head I 22 is elevated slightly above the block laden pallet, as in Figure 3, to permit free removal of the pallet and its block.

, Means for elevating the member I48 to' which the rods I46 and I54 are connected comprises parallel beams I66 pivotall mounted intermediate their ends on a shaft I68 supported in bearings I10. The beams I66 are provided with flanges I12 serving as guides for rollers I14 mounted loosely on a shaft I16 secured to brackets I18 attached to the member I48. Pivotal movement of the beams I66 from the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 to that of Figure 3 elevates the head I22 and lifts the block laden pallet from the mold 26.

The two beams I66 are connected as a unit and each is provided with a metal bar I at its end adjacent the shaft 10, see Figures 2, 4 and 6. Each of the disks 68 and 14 is provided with an arm I82 having a roller I84 arranged to engage one of the bars I80 to pivot the beam I66 for lifting the member I48 which carries the core pgllet lifting rods I46 and the head lifting rods Figures 8 and 9 respectively illustrate the electric circuits of the motors and H8. With respect to the circuit of Figure 8, the current supply linesare indicated at I 86 and I88. A normally open switch I90 is interposed in the wire I86 and is connected with a wire I92 leading. to a solenoid I94. The second wire I96 of the solenoid is lugged to the linewire I88. Wire I88 leads to the motor 90 and the second wire I98 of the motor 90 connects with a contact 200. Wire I98 is electrically. connected with a second solenoid 204 and the second wire 206 of the solenoid 204 is electrically connected with a flexible contact 208 normally spaced from a companion contact 2I0 electrically connected with a wire 2I2 lugged to the wire I88. The contact 208 is electrically engageable with the contact 2I0 by a cam 2I4 attached to the shaft 10.

The armature 2I6 of the solenoid I94 i connected with a conductor 2I8 pivotally mounted at 220 and having one end connected with the arma ture 222 of the solenoid 204. Normally the conductor 2 I8 rests on a stop 224 and is spring tensioned thereagainst by a tension spring 226 which yieldingly holds the conductor 2 I8 in engagement with the stop 224 or the contact 200. The switch I90 is normally open. To set the machine in operation, the switch is pressed to close the circuit through the solenoid I 94 which pivots the conductor 2I8 into engagement with the contact 200. This sets the motor 90 in operation and the motor continues operating until the cam 214 breaks the circuit through the motor 66.

rotates to a position for bringing the contact 208 into engagement with the contact 2|. for closing I fixed on the shaft III, The cam 226 controls the current supply to the motor II6 which operates the vibration frame 64.

' From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof will be readily understood. The cam 236 is so arranged on the shaft III as to set the vibration frame 34 in operation as the spout 36 begins its passage over the mold 26. As the mix is emptied into the mold 26, the carriage 34 is pulled back underneath the hopper spout 44. The head I22 is tripped just before the carriage 34 reaches its final position underneath the hopper spout. The vibration frame 94 continues its operation as the head I22 falls into the mold. At this time the cam 236 opens the circuit through the motor II6 to discontinue the vibrating action.

As the shaft I02, which carries the vibrating weights I06, loses its momentum, the beams I66 are engaged by the rollers I84 to elevate the lifting rods I46 and the head I22. The block laden pallet is lifted slowly from the mold 26. With the block laden pallet clear of the mold, the pallet and block are shifted onto the frame I66, and the beams I66 and the member I48 drop to their normal positions of Figure 2.

The rods I54 engage the pins I56 slightly prior to engagement of the rods I46 with the plate 30 to lift the head I22 approximately A inch clear of the block on the pallet to remove contact between the block and the head during the block lifting period. As the head I22 is elevated to its position of Figure 2, the head is latched in this position and the cam 2 I4 is brought into engagement with the contact 208 to open the circuit through the motor 90 and stop the machine until the switch I96 is again manually closed. LA weight 240 is fixedly connected with the two beams I66 to counterbalance some of the weight of the block and head lifting structure and to relieve the load on the motor 90.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for'use under various conditions of service. Manifestly the invention is susceptible of modification in other respects than described, and right is herein reserved to such other modifications as fall within the scope of the protection prayed.

I claim: I

1. In a building block forming machine, the combination of a block mold, means for feeding a predetermined quantity of plastic block material into the mold, a horizontal support pivotally supported intermediate its ends and having said mold mounted thereon on one side of its pivotal axis and counterbalanced upon the opposite side of the pivotal axis, rotary means on said support for vibrating the latter and said mold to pack the plastic block material, and means for removing the packed block from the mold.

2. In a building block forming machine, the

combination of a vibrating block mold having openings in its bottom, a pallet. removably resting on said bottom, a horizontal support pivotally supported intermediate its ends and having said mold mounted thereon on one side of its pivotal axis and counterbalanced upon the opposite side of the pivotal axis, rotary means on said support for vibrating the 'latterand said mold to pack the plastic bloc material, and means movable in said openings or engaging the pallet and lifting the latter and the mold.

3. In a building block forming machine, the combination of a vibrating block mold having an opening in its bottom, a pallet removably resting on said bottom, means for feeding a predetermined quantity of plastic block material into the mold and upon said pallet, a weight movable into engagement with the plastic block material in the mold, a pivoted support for the mold,

rotary means on said pivoted support for vibrating the latter and said mold to pack the plastic block material, means movable in said opening for engaging the pallet and lifting the latter and said packed block from the mold, and means movable with said last-mentioned means to elevate said weight clear of the mold and the packed block. I

4. In a building block forming machine, the combination of a hopper for a plastic block material having an open lower end, a stationary table located underneath the open end of the hopper and spaced therefrom, a block mold located at one end of said table and having an open upper end lying flush with the table, a track, a carriage movable on said track and having a spout provided with upper and lower open ends,

said spout having its lower end resting on said table to be closed thereby and it upper end in registration with the open end of the hopper and engaging the hopper, a pair of rotatable discs, an arm carried by one disc, a roller carried by the other disc, a pair of pivoted beams connectedwith the carriage, a roller on one beam engaging the arm on one disc for moving said carriage to position the spout in registration with the open upper end of said mold to deposit a predetermined quantity of plastic block material in the mold, said carriage being provided with a plate closing the open end of the hopper When said spout ismoved out of registration therewith, the roller on the other disc engaging the beam pivoted to the carriage for moving said carrlage to alternately position said spout in registration with the lower end of the hopper and said mold, a core pallet removably contained in the mold and lying on its bottom, said mold being provided with openings in its bottom, a normally elevated weight, a latch means for supporting said weight, said carriage being provided with 'a trip engageable with said latch to release the weight upon return of the carriage to position said spout in registration with the hopper, said weight being guided to fall upon the block material in said mold, means for vibrating the mold to pack the fluid block material, means movable in said openings to engage the pallet and elevate the latter and the packed block thereon to a position clear of the mold, and means movable with said last-mentioned means to elevate said weight into latched e agement with said latch means.

5. In a building block forming machine, the combination of a hopper for a plastic block material having an open lower end, a stationary tapacked block from the ble located underneath the open end or the hopper and spaced therefrom, a block mold located at oneend of said table and having an open upper end lying flush with the table, a track, a carriage movable on said track' and having a spout provided with upper and lower open ends, said spout having its lower end resting on said table to be closed thereby and its upper end in registration with the open end of the hopper and engaging the hopper, means for moving said carridge to position the spout in registration with the open upper end 01' said mold to deposit a predetermined quantity of plastic block material in the mold, said carriage being provided with a late closing the open end of the hopper when said spout is moved out of registration therewith, means for moving said carriage to alternately position said spout in registration with the lower end of the hopper and said mold, a core pallet of the carriage to position said spout in registration with the hopper, said weight being guided to fall upon the block material in said mold, a

6. The invention described in claim 1 wherein resilient bumpers are provided for said horizontal support.

7.'The invention described in claim 1 wherein said rotary means comprises a shaft and unbal- 7 switch for setting the said one of said motors into 7 operation.

horizontal support pivotally supported intermediate its ends and having said mold mounted thereon to one side -of the pivotal axis of the- 9. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for moving the carriage comprises a pair of discs, means for rotating the discs, a roller carried by one disc, an arm carried'by the other disc, a beam pivoted to the carriage, a second beam pivoted to the first beam, an arm on the second beam, and a roller carried by the arm engaging the arm on the disc to indicate the carriage in one direction, and the roller on the other disc engaging the second beam to actuate the carriage in the reverse direction.

ROY W. DARDEN. 

